August 31, 2026 • 8 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
A young Northern Territory butcher is taking local talent to
the world stage. Tamika Banks, well, she's made history as
the first NT apprentice to win the Australian Meat Industries
Council Apprentice of the Year Award after also claiming the
Territory's Apprentice of the Year title in 24 and 25. Now,
since then, she's been named the NT Woman of the
(00:22):
Year for Trades and Resources and ranked among the world's
top 14 butchers at the World Butcher Wars in Sydney.
And she has won multiple training and industry awards. But
now she's just one of three Aussies and the only
woman selected to compete at the World Butcher Wars in
Las Vegas next year. She joins me on the line.
(00:46):
Good morning, Tamika. Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yeah, really good. Lovely to have you on the show
this morning. Now, Tamika, it has been a big few
months since we last caught up. Tell us a bit
about what you've been up to.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, so it's been pretty crazy. But, yeah, the most
recent thing is the big Vegas trip coming up in
April next year.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
So tell me a little bit about how you got
selected to compete in Vegas next year.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yeah, so... I was pretty starstruck when it all happened,
but after competing at the World Butcher Wars in Sydney
earlier this year, they've selected three Australians to go over
to Las Vegas for the next World Butcher Wars. Which
is just amazing news. And it's just, I'm so grateful
(01:38):
for the opportunity as well.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Oh, it's so cool. Tell me, what did you have
to do at the event in Sydney in terms of,
you know, like, was it preparing a cut of meat?
What exactly did you have to do?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Yeah, so that was probably one of my craziest competitions yet.
So you only have 30 minutes. to break down a
whole side of lamb and a pork middle. You don't
have to use all the meat, but it's all about
creativity and what kind of value-added products you can create
in that 30 minutes. It's about your technique and speed,
(02:13):
but the major thing is your final product and how
it looks and how creative it is.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
So what were your final products? What did you do
in the end?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So my main product, I actually made a crocodile out
of lamb. I used a crocodile skull, real feet and
a real tail, and I used the lamb for the body.
So that was my main attraction. Yeah. Wowee.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Well, today we were just talking about this 4.4 metre
crocodile that had been pulled out of the water to
make her. I'm assuming it wasn't that big.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
No, it wasn't quite that big.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
How cool. So tell me, I mean, heading to Vegas today,
Next year, just one of three Aussies selected, the only
female competitor and the only Territorian. I mean, you must
be bloody proud to be representing the Territory on a
world stage.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Yeah, it's just amazing. It's crazy how far this trade
is taking me. And I'm just so excited to see
where else it can lead.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yeah. Tell me a little bit more about them, what
the competition's like. In Vegas, like what, you know, what
do you have to do when you're there? Do you know?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
So it's going to be pretty similar to the Sydney
World Butcher Wars, as it is still a World Butcher
Wars competition just in Vegas. So it'll obviously be a
lot bigger. There's talks of Netflix being involved and stuff
like that as well. Um, and it's one of the,
it is the biggest barbecue competition there too. So we're
(03:46):
going to be a part of that as the butcher wars, um,
section of it. Um, and it's, it's still going to
be a 30 minute competition and, um, Yeah, all the
same rules as the Sydney one. It's just the cut
of meat might be a bit different. But yeah, you've
really got to think outside the box with this next level.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Yeah, I was going to say, it sounds a bit
like MasterChef or something, doesn't it? Where you're kind of
given the cut of meat that you need to work with.
And I'm assuming you don't really know until you get there,
until they announce it?
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Well, with that one, we will know beforehand. But then
there's also going to be a team competition as well.
So myself and the two other Australians. There'll be another
part of the competition where we compete together, but that
is a mystery box challenge. So we will have no
idea what meat we get or what we are able
(04:42):
to create with that, ingredients-wise and all that. So that
one will be a surprise, but it's a good challenge.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Tamika, did you ever think when you decided that you
wanted to take up an apprenticeship in Australia in butchery
that it would take you this far and that you'd
be doing these wild, wonderful things?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Not at all. I'm just so happy that I can
put all this hard work and passion into this trade
and it just keeps giving back.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Yeah, I reckon it's so cool. I love what you're doing.
I love seeing young women succeeding at the level that
you are and, you know, in a field that a
lot of people may not really associate with being one
that a woman might be doing so well at.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yeah, yeah. It's awesome to see so many more females
entering the trade nowadays.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
It is so cool to see. Tell me, any idea
when you're in Vegas, if you're going to be the
only girl? Surely not. Surely there'll be some other females
competing as well.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, I dare say there would be. There was quite
a few females at the Sydney World Butch Wars.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And all over the world. Like I met this lady
called Taryn from Canada.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
And her display was amazing. So it's awesome to... to
be a part of that competition, but also in a
way of just meeting all the other butchers and seeing
what they create as well.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Yeah, I reckon it'd be so cool. Hey, tell me,
I mean, this trip, it is going to come with
a significant cost and you are really looking for some
community support. What would you say to businesses and Territorians
who might be considering getting behind your journey?
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Yeah, so I've actually started a GoFundMe page, which is
located on my Instagram page called Tamika the Butcheress. Any donation,
big or small, or even sharing that post will just
help me out big time. But it's also to the
businesses that want to donate as well. There is other
(06:51):
options where sponsorships, I can put their logos on my
competition shirt that will get noticed worldwide as well. So
um yeah I'm trying to offer um some things like
that that can also help the sponsors um get that
reach as well as helping me get to Vegas.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Tamika you might end up a Netflix star at this
rate mate it's pretty wild isn't it like I just
think it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah it's pretty crazy but I'm so stoked for.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
It yeah oh good on you I know you love
what you do and I um you know I'd I
always love catching up with you to hear what you
are up to. You've already raised $ 2, 560, but you do
certainly need a bit more. So to anybody out there
listening this morning, you can head to the GoFundMe. Just
(07:44):
go on Google GoFundMe and then you will indeed be
able to search Tamika Banks and you'll be able to
find her on there. Tamika, lovely to speak to you
as always. We'll definitely catch up with you before you
head across to Vegas.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Thanks so much for having me, Katie.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Anytime, anytime. Thank you for your time this morning.
A young Northern Territory butcher is taking local talent to
the world stage. Tamika Banks, well, she's made history as
the first NT apprentice to win the Australian Meat Industries
Council Apprentice of the Year Award after also claiming the
Territory's Apprentice of the Year title in 24 and 25. Now,
since then, she's been named the NT Woman of the
(00:22):
Year for Trades and Resources and ranked among the world's
top 14 butchers at the World Butcher Wars in Sydney.
And she has won multiple training and industry awards. But
now she's just one of three Aussies and the only
woman selected to compete at the World Butcher Wars in
Las Vegas next year. She joins me on the line.
(00:46):
Good morning, Tamika. Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yeah, really good. Lovely to have you on the show
this morning. Now, Tamika, it has been a big few
months since we last caught up. Tell us a bit
about what you've been up to.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, so it's been pretty crazy. But, yeah, the most
recent thing is the big Vegas trip coming up in
April next year.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
So tell me a little bit about how you got
selected to compete in Vegas next year.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yeah, so... I was pretty starstruck when it all happened,
but after competing at the World Butcher Wars in Sydney
earlier this year, they've selected three Australians to go over
to Las Vegas for the next World Butcher Wars. Which
is just amazing news. And it's just, I'm so grateful
(01:38):
for the opportunity as well.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Oh, it's so cool. Tell me, what did you have
to do at the event in Sydney in terms of,
you know, like, was it preparing a cut of meat?
What exactly did you have to do?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Yeah, so that was probably one of my craziest competitions yet.
So you only have 30 minutes. to break down a
whole side of lamb and a pork middle. You don't
have to use all the meat, but it's all about
creativity and what kind of value-added products you can create
in that 30 minutes. It's about your technique and speed,
(02:13):
but the major thing is your final product and how
it looks and how creative it is.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
So what were your final products? What did you do
in the end?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So my main product, I actually made a crocodile out
of lamb. I used a crocodile skull, real feet and
a real tail, and I used the lamb for the body.
So that was my main attraction. Yeah. Wowee.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Well, today we were just talking about this 4.4 metre
crocodile that had been pulled out of the water to
make her. I'm assuming it wasn't that big.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
No, it wasn't quite that big.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
How cool. So tell me, I mean, heading to Vegas today,
Next year, just one of three Aussies selected, the only
female competitor and the only Territorian. I mean, you must
be bloody proud to be representing the Territory on a
world stage.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Yeah, it's just amazing. It's crazy how far this trade
is taking me. And I'm just so excited to see
where else it can lead.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yeah. Tell me a little bit more about them, what
the competition's like. In Vegas, like what, you know, what
do you have to do when you're there? Do you know?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
So it's going to be pretty similar to the Sydney
World Butcher Wars, as it is still a World Butcher
Wars competition just in Vegas. So it'll obviously be a
lot bigger. There's talks of Netflix being involved and stuff
like that as well. Um, and it's one of the,
it is the biggest barbecue competition there too. So we're
(03:46):
going to be a part of that as the butcher wars, um,
section of it. Um, and it's, it's still going to
be a 30 minute competition and, um, Yeah, all the
same rules as the Sydney one. It's just the cut
of meat might be a bit different. But yeah, you've
really got to think outside the box with this next level.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Yeah, I was going to say, it sounds a bit
like MasterChef or something, doesn't it? Where you're kind of
given the cut of meat that you need to work with.
And I'm assuming you don't really know until you get there,
until they announce it?
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Well, with that one, we will know beforehand. But then
there's also going to be a team competition as well.
So myself and the two other Australians. There'll be another
part of the competition where we compete together, but that
is a mystery box challenge. So we will have no
idea what meat we get or what we are able
(04:42):
to create with that, ingredients-wise and all that. So that
one will be a surprise, but it's a good challenge.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Tamika, did you ever think when you decided that you
wanted to take up an apprenticeship in Australia in butchery
that it would take you this far and that you'd
be doing these wild, wonderful things?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Not at all. I'm just so happy that I can
put all this hard work and passion into this trade
and it just keeps giving back.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Yeah, I reckon it's so cool. I love what you're doing.
I love seeing young women succeeding at the level that
you are and, you know, in a field that a
lot of people may not really associate with being one
that a woman might be doing so well at.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yeah, yeah. It's awesome to see so many more females
entering the trade nowadays.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
It is so cool to see. Tell me, any idea
when you're in Vegas, if you're going to be the
only girl? Surely not. Surely there'll be some other females
competing as well.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, I dare say there would be. There was quite
a few females at the Sydney World Butch Wars.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And all over the world. Like I met this lady
called Taryn from Canada.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
And her display was amazing. So it's awesome to... to
be a part of that competition, but also in a
way of just meeting all the other butchers and seeing
what they create as well.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Yeah, I reckon it'd be so cool. Hey, tell me,
I mean, this trip, it is going to come with
a significant cost and you are really looking for some
community support. What would you say to businesses and Territorians
who might be considering getting behind your journey?
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Yeah, so I've actually started a GoFundMe page, which is
located on my Instagram page called Tamika the Butcheress. Any donation,
big or small, or even sharing that post will just
help me out big time. But it's also to the
businesses that want to donate as well. There is other
(06:51):
options where sponsorships, I can put their logos on my
competition shirt that will get noticed worldwide as well. So
um yeah I'm trying to offer um some things like
that that can also help the sponsors um get that
reach as well as helping me get to Vegas.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Tamika you might end up a Netflix star at this
rate mate it's pretty wild isn't it like I just
think it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah it's pretty crazy but I'm so stoked for.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
It yeah oh good on you I know you love
what you do and I um you know I'd I
always love catching up with you to hear what you
are up to. You've already raised $ 2, 560, but you do
certainly need a bit more. So to anybody out there
listening this morning, you can head to the GoFundMe. Just
(07:44):
go on Google GoFundMe and then you will indeed be
able to search Tamika Banks and you'll be able to
find her on there. Tamika, lovely to speak to you
as always. We'll definitely catch up with you before you
head across to Vegas.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Thanks so much for having me, Katie.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Anytime, anytime. Thank you for your time this morning.
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